Changeable sign



F. L. HOLT CHANGEABLE 5 IGN March 18, 1930.

2 Sheets=$heet 1 Original Filed Jan. 31, 1929 mumm March 18, 1939. F. L. HOLT CHANGEABLE SIGN Original Filed Jan. 31, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 @Mfl'flui INVENTOR.

i ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 18, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FRED L. HOLT, OF WINSTON-SALEM, NORTH CAROLINA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF T 7 JOHN T. BENBOW, 0F WINSTON-SALEM, NORTH CAROLINA CHAN GEABLE SIGN Application filed January 31, 1929, Serial No. 336,491. Renewed January 31, 1930.

This invention relates to a changeable sign having means for quickly changing the signs which are rendered visible, which device is capable not only of displaying signs but also merchandise, samples, photographs and other tangible objects.

An object of my invention is to provide an exhibiting machine having means for exhibiting a plurality of objects, one at a time, and

means for quickly changing the objects displayed.

Another object of my invention is to provide an exhibiting machine having a continuous carrying member on which any objects desired to be exhibited can be detachably secured, and means for quickly changing the objects which are being displayed.

Some of the objects of my invention having been stated, other objects will appear as 80 the description proceeds when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side view of my machine, partly in cross-section; 25 Figure 2 is a front elevation of my machine;

Figure 3 is a front elevation of my machine with the front cover portion removed;

Figure 4 is a perspective detailed view of so the means for holding cards and other ob 'ects; 3 Figure 5 is a view of a display sign adapted to be carried by my machine;

Figure 6 is an enlarged side elevation of the holding means for the cards and other objects.

Referring more particularly to the draw ings, the numeral 10 indicates the casing in my machine, having the front window 11 and the rear opening 12, the rear opening being adapted to be used for attaching and removing objects to the sign exhibiting means. Vithin the machine I have provided a framework which comprises the vertically disposed members 14 and 15 on either side of the machine, with the transversely disposed members 16 and 17 on either side of the machine and in the upper and lower ends of the members 14 and 15 I rotatably mount the transversely 60 disposed shafts 18, 19, 20 and 21 and on these shafts in close proximity to the ends thereof I mount the sprockets 22, 23, 24 and 25, these sprockets being in pairs, and placed at opposite ends of the said transversely disposed shafts, and the sprockets 24 are larger than the other sprockets, the purpose of which will. be presently described. All of the other sprockets except 24 are mere idler sprockets and the shaft 21 has the set screw 26 by means of which it can be adjusted in position to regulate the tautness of the endless sprocket chains 27 and 28. The sprocket chain 27 is mounted on the set of the sprbckets at one end of the transversely disposed shafts 22 to inclusive, and the chain'28 is on the other set of the corresponding sprockets. These chains have the transversely disposed bars 30 connected thereon, which have the clips 31 thereon, which are adapted to releasably hold the display cards 30, articles of merchandise and any objects which are desired to be exhibited.

The vertically disposed members 14 and 15 are secured to each other by means of the braces 32, 33 and 34.

The vertically disposed members 35 and 36 are secured to the members 14 and 15 by means of braces 37, and project upwardly and support the transversely disposed shafts 38 and 39 and the motor 40 is mounted on the support 41 which is secured to the members 16 and this motor has the shaft 42 which has the worm 43 thereon which meshes with the worm gear 44 on the vertically disposed shaft 45 and the upper end of this shaft has the worm 46 thereon which meshes with the pinion 47 on the transversely disposed shaft 38 and the cam member 47 a is fixedly secured on this shaft and the lever 48 is mounted pivotally as at 49 and has the projection 50 th ereon,

which is adapted to project into the slots 51 in the Geneva wheel 52 which is fixedly secured on the shaft 39 and also fixedly secured on this shaft 39 is the wheel 53 which has the teeth 55 thereon which are adapted to engage with the pinion 56 on the transversely disposed shaft 19. The leaf spring 60 bears against the member 48 to force the projection 50 into one of the slots when not held from doing so by the cam member 47*. The shaft 38 also has mounted thereon the arm 61 which Geneva stop movement, to impart a, quick has the roller 62 on the end thereof which movement to the continuous member in the roller is adapted to enter the slots 51 of the casing.

Geneva wheel and impart a quarter turn thereto.

The method of operation of my device is as follows:

Cards or other objects are securedin place by means of the clips 31 and the motor 10 is started which turns shaft 45 which turns shaft 38 in the position shown. The cam member 47 is in such a position as to allow the projection 50 to enter one of the slots 51 and prevent movement of the sign exhibiting mechanism but upon a further revolution of the shaft 38 the cam 47 will engage the member 418 and withdraw the projection 50 from the slot 51 and then the roller 62 will enter the said slot and impart a quarter turn to the wheel 53 which will impart a full turn to the pinion 56 and give a rapid turn to said shaft and the sprocket 24; is of such a dimension as to entirely remove one sign from view and bring another sign into view behind the window 11.

In thedrawings and specifications I have set forth a preferred embodiment of my invention and although specific terms are employed they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of my invention being set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In an exhibiting machine, a casing, a window in said casing, a framework in said casing, four transversely disposed shafts in said framework, a Geneva stop movement, a wheel associated with said Geneva stop movement, teeth on the periphery of said wheel, a pinion on one of said transversely disposed shafts adapted to be engaged by said teeth,

means for imparting movement to said Geneva movement, means for preventing movement of the said Geneva movement when the first-named operating means are inoperative, sprockets on the said transversely disposed shafts, continuous sprocket chains mounted on the said sprockets, and means on said sprockets chains for detachably securing objects for exhibition.

2. In an exhibiting machine, a casing, a window in said casing, a continuously driven member in said casing, a Geneva stop movement in said casing, an arm on said continuously driven member adapted to intermittently engage the Geneva stop movement, a

continuous belt mounted on a plurality of sprockets, gear connections between one of the sets of sprockets at the Geneva stop movement, a dog adapted to engage the Geneva stop movement at all times when the Geneva stop movement is not to be operated, said dog being adapted to be automatically removed from the Geneva stop movement when the arm is adapted to impart rotation to the In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

FRED L. HOLT. 

